_A Brief History of the International Visitors Programme

Now in its eleventh year and with over 200 international guests, the International Visitors Programme continues to strengthen links between Canadian publishing and its international counterparts, and to bring greater exposure to Canada’s literary community with ongoing success.

The International Visitors (IV) Programme was established in 2008 to bring a select group of international publishing leaders to Canada in conjunction with the renowned IFOA at Harbourfront Centre. Modelled on similar successful programmes in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, and the UK, the IV Programme mixes influential foreign publishing professionals with Canadian authors, agents, editors, and publishers, and even the broader reading public. The Programme also operates as an informal rights fair, something new in the Canadian market. In a relaxed setting it provides the opportunity to exchange information, as well as the chance to enjoy many of the social occasions, parties, dinners, and luncheons associated with the Festival. Participants in the Programme will benefit from attending one of the most prestigious book festivals in the world, while Canadian authors and the Canadian publishing industry benefit from this unprecedented opportunity for international exposure.

Each year the IV committee brings together different elements of the arts world, including book publishers, literary agencies and magazine publishers. The committee is in frequent contact with newspaper publishers, literary associations, authors, and booksellers as well. In bringing the literary arts community together for this common cause, the IV Programme is building international publishing relationships and strengthening those of the domestic industry.

What are International Visitors Fellows and Distinguished Guests?

IV Fellows

Each year, the IV Programme invites a limited number of acquiring editors and literary scouts to join the Programme as Fellows. The IV Programme pays for airfare, hotel accommodation, and meals as well as transport to and from the airport and to events. Funding is obtained through various domestic and international funding bodies. IV Fellows participate in all IV events- including quick-pitch meetings with literary agents, rights managers, publishers, and editors- and may be asked to participate in an industry event. The Festival readings, including the Governor General's Literary Award for Fiction finalists reading are a highlight of the Programme. Although IV Fellows may set up additional appointments if time permits, their schedules consist largely of appointments set up through the Programme.

Distinguished Guests The IV Programme invites senior publishing executives, literary festival directors, international literary journalists, international government representatives, and literary agents to join our Programme. The IV Programme is pleased to coordinate accommodation arrangements as well as organize appointments during the visit for DGs. Although Distinguished Guests pay their own airfare, their hotel accommodation, meals as well as transport to and from the airport and to events are covered by the Programme. Guests are invited to all IV Programme events and are free to book their own appointments and set their own schedule. The Festival readings, including the Governor General's Literary Award for Fiction finalists reading, are a highlight of the Programme.